Steps for Starting a Small Business

Are you ready to start up your business idea and become an entrepreneur? Before you can call yourself a small business owner, you’ll want to make sure your business solves a real problem, has a plan and can get funding. Follow these steps to turn your startup idea into a thriving small business in Massachusetts. When the time comes, Needham Bank’s team of experienced commercial lenders can advise you on how to jumpstart your business.

1. Develop a Business Plan 

Before kicking off a startup business, you will need a realistic and balanced business plan. Begin your planning with market research. When exploring your prospective industry, pinpoint potential customers and already established competitors. The goal of your market research should be to find the unique advantage your business will provide. 

Once you have formed a realistic business goal, start putting together your business plan. The Small Business Administration (SBA) offers helpful advice on what to include in your business plan. You’ll then want to connect with a qualified small business advisor or business banker at Needham Bank who can help you review and refine your small business plan. 

A solid business plan is crucial in the startup phase and will become helpful in the growth phase. Plus, many business loan officers base their lending decisions on business plans to assess risk. A concierge banker from Needham Bank’s business banking team can help you prepare for funding, tax planning, risk management, estate planning, investing and more. 

2. Estimate Your Business Expenses

Like the saying goes, it takes money to make money. When it comes to small business funding, there are several paths you can take to reach your goals. Some, however, come at a higher risk than others. Before calculating your startup costs, the SBA suggests identifying your small business as one of the following three types: 

• Brick and mortar
• Online business
• Service

There are a variety of factors to consider across all three types of business. These factors include, but are not limited to, office space, equipment, communication tools, salaries, marketing strategy and printed and digital material. 

Capital expenditures and one-time payments will also play a role in financing a small business. For example, you may need financing for inventory, commercial property or vehicles, depending on the nature of the business you are pursuing. 

The SBA offers a worksheet to help you assess your startup costs based on the above factors. Find out how much you can afford by comparing your costs to your assets to see if you can self-fund, or if you’ll need to borrow or raise capital from investors. 

3. Financing Options for Your Massachusetts Small Business

Most small businesses don’t have access to venture capital or “angel investors,” individuals who help provide capital for startups, and choose to self-fund or apply for business loans. Here are the key things to keep in mind when deciding between self-funding and borrowing to launch your business: 

Self-Funding Your Business

The SBA defines self-funding as taking on all financial risk yourself. If you’re looking to bootstrap your business, you’ll need to tap into your own money from a checking account, savings account or 401k. You may also choose to fill in the gaps by borrowing money from family or friends. 

Keep in mind that self-funding means you take on all the risk personally. If this is something you are considering for your business, it’s important to budget for fees and damages that could come unexpectedly in the early years of your business. Consider opening a business savings account for these expenses and access our retirement calculators to understand the potential impact to your retirement savings. 

Needham Bank’s Cash Management suite can help you control all aspects of your business finances and manage your cashflow and expenditures.

Borrowing Money to Start Your Business

Another option to help launch your startup is to take out a business loan with Needham Bank. Small business loans give entrepreneurs the opportunity to start businesses they might not be able to self-fund. 

Before applying for a business loan, we recommend meeting with a business loan officer, like the ones on Needham Bank’s commercial lending team. Prepare for this meeting by obtaining your current credit score, firming up your business plan and listing out expenses and financial projections for at least the next five years. Our commercial lending team can help you get organized before applying for your loan.

Determine Your Legal Business Structure 

Before you register your business in Massachusetts, you will need to determine the most appropriate legal business structure: LTD, PC, Corp. or LLC. How you structure your business will affect how much you pay in taxes, the paperwork you need to file and your personal liability. 

Common business structures include sole properties, partnerships, limited liability companies (LLC), C Corporations, S Corporations, B Corporations and nonprofit corporations. You will need to do thorough research and compare the general traits of these business structures in Massachusetts to determine which is best for you.

Talk to your commercial lender before making your decision. It’s important to note, it’s possible to switch to a different legal business structure in the future, although the requirements and procedures differ by location.

4. Choose a Location for Your MA Business

Whether your startup is a physical business, a service or an online business, you must choose a location for necessary licensing and permits. Choose wisely, because your business location determines how much you’ll pay in taxes, what federal and state licenses you will need and the permits and regulations that will apply to your business. 

Associated fees will vary based on the nature of your business, location and local governments. The SBA provides a list of general federal licenses and permits. Look to see if any aspect of your business activity is listed, then check with the appropriate federal agency to see how you should apply. 

The Massachusetts Office of Consumer Affairs and Business Regulation also offers information about licensing a business in Massachusetts. Business activities that are commonly regulated at a state level include auctions, construction, dry cleaning, farming, plumbing, restaurants, retail and vending machines.

5. Open Your Business Bank Accounts 

Before you begin spending or accepting money on behalf of your MA small business, you’ll want to open a business bank account. There are many benefits to having a business bank account, including the ability to separate your personal and business finances and ensure accurate bookkeeping. 

To open a business bank account, you will need to provide proof of business identity and address, as well as proof of identity for all responsible individuals involved in your business. You will also need your Employer Identification Number (EIN). If you are a sole proprietor, this would be your Social Security number. 

Starting a business can be both exciting and intimidating, but if you have solid plans in place, you can achieve your dreams. Lean on our business banking team to guide you through the small business planning and funding process. Contact us at Needham Bank today to set up an appointment.